13 March 2017 - Daily Current Affairs

PM launches a campaign to eradicate TB from India by 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the TB-free India Campaign to take the activities under the National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination.

According to the Prime Minister, a target has been set to end TB globally by 2030 and Government of India has set an aim to eradicate it from India five years ahead by 2025.

TB is responsible for 1.7 million deaths in 2016, despite most cases being curable while over 10 million people contract TB every year.

The summit will set the stage for United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB in September this year.

Govt to institute the award for best investigators of crime

The Union government has decided to institute an award ‘’Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation’ for carrying out the best investigation of crime for promoting high professional standards among police forces.

The award will be given (15th August every year) to the best investigators of police forces of States, Union Territories, and central investigating agencies.

Officers from the rank of Sub-Inspector to Superintendent of Police are eligible for the award, a quota of medals for Women Investigators.

137 will be for the states and Union territories and 25 for the central investigating agencies like National Investigation Agency (NIA), CBI and Narcotics Control Bureau.

PM Modi launches a number of schemes for poor in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched number of schemes for the poor in Varanasi and emphasized on harnessing solar energy for cooking.

Mr. Modi inaugurated a 101-megawatt solar power plant in Mirzapur along with French President Emmanuel Macron.

He also flagged off a new train - Kanshi-Patna Jan Shatabdi Express - between Varanasi and Patna.

The Prime Minister also announced Ayushman Bharat scheme to ensure better healthcare facilities for the poor.

An overdraft allows the individual to continue withdrawing money even if the account has no funds in it or not enough to cover the withdrawal.

SBI slashes minimum balance charges by up to 75%

State Bank of India (SBI) has cut down the charges for non-maintenance of average minimum balance in its savings accounts by up to 75%, into effect from 1st of April.

Now, the customers in metro and urban centers will have to pay Rs 15 per month plus GST (Earlier Rs 50 per month plus GST).

For semi-urban centers, the charges have been reduced from Rs 40 to Rs 12 per month plus GST.

The lender has 41 crore savings bank accounts, out of which 16 crore accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna.

India announces USD 100 Ml LoC for Mauritius

India has announced a new line of Credit of USD 100 million for defense procurement by Mauritius as the two sides signed many agreements on President Ram Nath Kovind's visit.

The agreements were signed after President Kovind held delegation-level talks with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and members of his Cabinet.

Maldives Parliament approved the anti-defection bill

The Maldives Parliament has approved the anti-defection bill with retrospective effect amidst boycott by opposition MPs.

Now, MPs elected on political party tickets will lose their seat if they leave their party.

The bill would take effect from 13th July 2017.

Earlier, Supreme court in its 1st of last month's judgment had restored the seats of 12 MPS who had defected to opposition thus putting the government in the effective minority.

The 12 MPs who earlier defected to opposition side will lose seats as the bill will be implemented with retrospective effect.

West Bengal tops in rural job scheme

West Bengal has become the best performing State both in terms of allotting jobs and utilising funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

According to statistics, West Bengal generated more than 28.21 crore work days under the scheme so far in 2017-18 and spent more than ₹7,335.31 crores for it.

Tamil Nadu occupied the second spot with 22.17 crore work days and spent Rs. 5,981.75 crores.

Andhra Pradesh was third with 18.16 crore work days, and funds worth Rs. 5054.17 crore.

Goa is ranked at the bottom of the list with 94,000 work days and spent funds worth ₹2.47 crore.

Note:

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (later renamed as the "Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act", MGNREGA), is an Indian labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to work'.